Arrest order vs Arroyo put on hold

MANILA (Updated 11:20 a.m.) - Pending the resolution of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s motion for judicial determination of probable cause, the Sandiganbayan has put on hold the arrest warrant issued against her Thursday.

The arrest order is in relation to a non-bailable plunder case over the alleged misuse of P366 million in Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) intelligence funds.

The arrest warrant was signed by Sandiganbayan First Division chairman Efren de la Cruz.

House Deputy Minority Leader Danilo Suarez, an ally of Arroyo, found the issuance of the warrant “unusual”.

In a phone interview, Suarez said: “Ewan ko ba. Awang-awa na ko sa tao, may sakit na nga eh”.

Also named respondents to the case are former PCSO general manager Rosario Uriarte; former PCSO board chairperson Sergio Valencia; former PCSO board members Manuel Morato, Jose Taruc, Raymundo Roquero and Ma. Fatima Valdes; and former PCSO budget officer Benigno Aguas.

Former Commission on Audit chairperson Reynaldo Villar and former COA intelligence officer Milda Plara were also named in the charge sheet.

Arroyo’s arrest was ordered a day after her son, Ang Galing Pinoy party-list Representative Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo filed her certificate of candidacy (COC) as she sought to be re-elected as second district congresswoman of Pampanga.

Elena Bautista-Horn, the former President’s spokesperson, said Arroyo was not allowed by her doctors to personally file her candidacy papers.

Arroyo is out on provisional liberty after a Pasay City court allowed her to post bail in connection to a separate electoral sabotage case. (Kathrina Alvarez/Sunnex)